The print queue on your Windows should now be cleared. Type exit, then press “Enter” to exit the command window.

GUI Method

You can clear the print queue using this the Windows GUI.

Hold down the Windows Key and press “R” to bring up the Run dialog.

Type services.msc, then press “Enter“.

Find the “Print Spooler” service in the list. Right-click it, then select “Stop“.

Leave the Services window open. Hold down the Windows Key and press “R” to bring up the Run dialog.

Type %systemroot%\System32\spool\printers\, then press “Enter“.

Select all of the files by holding “CTRL” and pressing “A“.

Press the “Delete” key to delete all of the files.

Go back to the Services window, right-click “Print Spooler“, then select “Start“

FAQ

Some files remain in the “printers” folder and will not allow me to delete them. How to I get rid of these?

Make sure the Print Spooler is stopped. If you’re sure it’s stopped, you might want to try opening a command prompt and running “chkfdsk /f /r” to run a check on the hard disk. Once complete, attempt to delete the file.

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My name is Mitch Bartlett. I've been working in technology for over 20 years in a wide range of tech jobs from Tech Support to Software Testing. I started this site as a technical guide for myself and it has grown into what I hope is a useful reference for all.